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Evacuation warnings expand as Apache Fire worsens
A plane drops fire retardant on the Apache Fire, burning just northeast of Ojai in Ventura County on July 24, 2024.
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Flemming Bertelsen
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United States Forest Service
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Topline:
The Apache Fire burning north of Ojai in Ventura County has grown to roughly 1,500 acres and is 0% contained as of Thursday morning. Mandatory evacuations are in place for those on Apache Canyon Road, while evacuation warnings have been issued for surrounding neighborhoods.
A look ahead: Temperatures have been hovering around the triple digits, but should start to decline heading into the weekend. As the high pressure system breaks down, 28 mph wind gusts could hit the area, raising the risk of fire spotting and fast expansion of the blaze.
Why now: Multiple heat waves have dried out vegetation to critical levels, making it easier for any little spark to grow to a full blown conflagration. Diurnal winds are helping to push the fire up through narrow canyons. It's unclear what started the fire.
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Evacuations: Both evacuation warnings and orders have been issued and will continue to evolve as the fire moves through the area. Find an up to date map here.
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